Clothespin



Dec. 21; 1948. I J. F. BERGANTINO CLOTHESPIN Filed Feb. 7, 1947 IN V EN TOR.

JOSEPH FJBERGAA/T/NO ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 21, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOTHESPIN Joseph F. Bergantino, San Francisco, Calif.

Application February 7, 1947, Serial No. 727,267

1 Claim. 1

The invention, in general, relates to devices for suspending articles of clothing, including fabrics as well as curtains and drapes and the like, from a line. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved clothespin affording complete protection to the clothes or other suspended articles from becoming I soiled, torn or otherwise damaged.

Practically all modern types of clothespins have been so constructed as to incorporate therein a resilient member, such as a coil spring or the like, for urging the gripping jaws of the pin together to hold a garment or article of clothing therebetween. Some of these prior clothespins containing such springs are so made as to present one or both termini of the spring in an exposed condition with the result that clothing or fabrics suspended by the pin accidentally become torn. Moreover, many of these prior types of clothespins require the use of small pieces of cloth or paper to prevent contact of the suspended article with the wire or fabric line for preventing soiling of the articles. The present invention is directed to a springess clothespin so constructed as to obviate the foregoing disadvantages of prior constructions.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved clothespin affording a positive gripping action upon clothes or articles to be suspended which is in direct ratio to its positive gripping action on the line upon which the pin is mounted or attached.

Another important object of my invention is to provide an improved clothespin of the indicated nature which is further characterized by its adaptability to suspend clothes and other fabrics from a line free from contact with the line.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved clothes-pin of the aforementioned character having a minimum of parts and being relatively inexpensive to produce.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved clothespin which can be removably attached to a line after having first attached clothing, fabrics or other articles to the pin so that the suspendin of the clothes to the line can be performed in a single operation.

Other objects of the invention, together with some of the advantageous features thereof, will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that I am not to be limited to the precise embodiment shown, nor to the precise arrangement of the parts thereof, as my invention, as defined in the appended claim, can be tached to a line and holding an article, this view 4 being taken on the line 33 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In its preferred form, the improved clothespin of my invention preferably comprises a combination hook and gripping jaw element, a combination lever and gripping jaw element, together with a pin for pivotally fastening the two elements together; said pin serving as-a fulcrum for the lever action in attaching the pin to a line.

As particularly depicted in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, of the accompanying drawings, my improved clothespin consists of but three main parts including a combination hook and gripping jaw element H which is formed with an elongated slot I2 in the hook portion l3 thereof as well as a transverse opening I5 extending through the same at the approximate longitudinal center thereof, and with a series of notches M in the gripping jaw portion l6 thereof, such notches being depicted in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings and in full lines in Figure 3 of the drawings. In addition, the improved clothespin includes a combination lever and gripping jaw element l'l wherein the lever portion [8 is made narrow as compared to the gripping portion l9 thereof, such lever l8 terminating short of the hook portion l3 of element H and passing through the slot E2 of the hook [3 when the pin is in open position, as indicated by the full line showing of Figure 1 and the dotted line showing of Figure 2 of the drawings. The gripping jaw portion IQ of the element 11 is formed with a serrated side, as indicated by the reference numeral 20, and the serrations 20 of the jaw portion l9 corresponding in position to the positions of the recesses or notches M of the gripping jaw portion 3 of the element l I. Thus, with the pin in closed or operative position suspended from a line 2l', see Figure 3 of the drawings, the serrations 20 enter the notches 14 with a portion of an article 22 gripped therebetween.

In accordance with my invention, the combination hook and gripping jaw element 1 l is pivotally connected to the combination lever and gripping jaw element I! by means of a pivot pin 26 which is so located as to function as a fulcrum for the lever portion 18 of element IT, with the line 2| bearing against the upper extremity of the lever when the hook I3 is slipped over or suspended on the line 2!. This lever action effects a positive gripping action on the article of clothing 22 between the jaws l6 and i9, and the gripping action at the jaws is in direct ratio to the gripping action effected between the hook l3 and the lever [B with the line 2| gripped in between.

Whiie the improved clothespin of my present invention can be fabricated of any suitable material, such as relatively hard wood, or a stainless metal such as stainless steel, I preferably mold the elements from a plastic material such as a phenolic or urea condensate, and also employ such plastic material for the pivot and fulcrum pin 25 Thus, there is afforded a moistureproof, hard clothesp-in of relatively great strength to withstand hard usage with no exposed metal parts to become rusty and, consequently, avoiding all likelihood of clothing or articles becoming rusted or otherwise soil-ed from contact with the pin. Moreover, since no spring is contained in my improved clothespin, there is no danger of clothing or fabrics becoming torn or otherwise damaged from termini of wire springs or the like.

It is to be appreciated that my improved clothespincan be attached to a clothesline with one hand and in a single operation after first-disposing and gripping clothing or articles between the jaw portions of the elements II and I1. To effect this result, it is only necessary to first place the clothing between the gripping jaws and press the lever l8 with the thumb or finger towards the closed portion of the hook l3. Thereafter, with the one hand dispose the hook over the line 2| by fitting the line between the open portion of the hook and the lever I 8, all as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

It is to be understood that the appended claim is to be accorded a range of equivalents commensurate with the advance made over the prior art.

I claim:

A clothespin comprising a combination hook and gripping jaw element; the hook having an elongated slot therein and said element having a transverse opening therethrough at the approximate longitudinal center thereof, a combination lever and gripping jaw element extending through said transverse opening of said first named element approximately at its longitudinal center with the gripping jaws of the elements aligned in opposed relationship; the lever of said second named element passing through the slot of the-hook upon the opening of the clothespin, and a pivot pin piercing both said elements at their approximate longitudinal center to connect the elements r for pivotal movement; said pivot pinqserving as afulcrum when the clothespin is suspe'ndedfrom a clothesline forcibly to urge. the gripping elements toward one another.

JOSEPH F. BERGAN'I'INO.

REFERENCE$ CITED The following'references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 559,192 Great Britain E6125 8,- 1 

